While still at school, and before joining Norwood, Mick Daly captained Urrbrae in the morning, and played for Happy Valley in the afternoon. In 1957 he played for Norwood's Junior Colts, and in 1958 and 1959 was captain of the Senior Colts.

Daly made his League debut in the second round of the 1960 season when Norwood defeated South Adelaide comfortably in the Adelaide Oval clash.

A regular league player in 1961 and 1962, he won the Most Improved award in 1962.

He then left Norwood to coach the Plympton Football Club in 1964.

In 1966 he returned and was a member of the Reserves team that beat Port Adelaide by 75 points in the Grand Final. He was outstanding playing on a wing. At the end of the season he was presented with a Five Year Player Certificate.

While he only played a couple of league games during the year, he had an excellent finals series for the Reserves.

In 1970 and 1971 he captain-coached the Waratahs in the Northern Territory Football League.

A professional athlete away from football, Daly won several running titles including the Glenelg Sprint at the 1965 and 1969 Bay Sheffield carnivals.